Paul offered to take her cup. She took another bite and handed it over. She wiggled out of her slacks and panties, her beautiful white skin nearly as creamy as the treat. Paul took a big bite of ice cream, the cold stinging his teeth, but Mary’s squeal as his lips wrapped around her second nipple made it worthwhile.
She scooted back on the bed, resting against the headboard. He dragged his tongue on a lazy path around her breast and rolled her other nipple between his fingers. The bed shifted. Mary gasped and Paul assumed Thomas found the sweet spot.
“Wow.” Her breathy exclamation filled the room. “Cold is good.”
He dipped his finger into the ice again and circled her nipple. She threaded her fingers through his hair, pulling it tight, but he kept his place, sucking and playing. He released one of her hands and followed her fingers down her wrist and forearm until he found her elbow. She shivered and pulled tighter.
“Paul, you are such a— Oh, jeez.”
He peeked toward her face the moment her mouth dropped open. Her gasp and curse brought him deep satisfaction. He hadn’t done it alone, but took the pleasure and made it his own. He freed her nipple and checked down to Thomas. Only the top of his head showed, locked between Mary’s knees.
Thomas looked up, ice cream dripping from his chin, a grin on his face. They shared heaven. This is what he’d dreamed of on the long nights before they’d gone for Mary. Pleasuring her, making her giggle and cry out in satisfaction. Thomas offered up a condom.
He accepted and tore it open. Mary grabbed it out of his hand and took her time rolling it down his dick. By the time she tickled his balls his tentative hold on control threatened to snap. She grinned at him, her wicked gaze showing she knew her effect and liked it.
He shook his head and took her by the hips, flipping her to her hands and knees in one motion.
She squealed and whipped her head around with wide eyes. “Do I look like a bale of hay to you?”
He stroked her ass, the round curve welcoming him closer. “Nope. Not at all.”
Though her thighs and pussy were sticky from the ice cream, his cock slipped inside her with no trouble. She turned away from him and moaned. He shifted her toward the edge of the bed and stood, the height of the bed just right. He grinned at Thomas who still hung to the side.
Thomas dropped his pants and in a braver move than Paul would have done, put cold ice cream on his dick. Paul winced along with Thomas, but when Mary looked up she laughed and shimmed to the bed corner, taking Paul along.
* * * *
Mary preferred chocolate ice cream, but vanilla never tasted so good. She licked a long line from Thomas’s balls to the tip of his dick, catching a drop of vanilla cream. His fingers tightened in her hair. She opened her lips and welcomed him deeper, taking him as far as she could. He thrust lightly, nudging her throat.
Behind her, Paul did his own nudging. She pressed her bottom against him, needing more to escalate her pleasure. Being licked like ice cream only warmed her up. She met his thrusts with her own, speeding up until he increased his rhythm. She moaned around Thomas’s penis and clenched her pussy.
The combination of the two cocks and rhythmic motion lulled her pleasure, not escalating or letting it fall, just held it steady. She sucked harder, impatient for more. Thomas’s fingers tightened and he thrust harder, hitting the back of her throat almost too hard. She turned her head, taking him a touch deeper, holding her breath as the first spurts of his cream joined the vanilla treat.
His warm addition didn’t offer the same sweetness, but she took it in her mouth and swallowed before licking the length of his penis again. She looked up at his face, the pleasure as much a treat to see as it had been to deliver.
Paul’s hands shifted to her waist and he lifted her upright, still deep inside her. She gasped at the sudden change and reached out for balance. Thomas stepped up. She held him by the shoulders while Paul increased his power and speed. The angle delivered every thrust higher than the last, escalating the lulled orgasm to the breaking point.
Thomas crashed his lips to hers, kissing her with ferocity to match Paul’s fucking. She sank her fingers into his shoulders as pleasure exploded through her body. Thomas kept her still as Paul continued pumping. Her hips rocked, but Thomas steadied those too, keeping her in place through the second assault of pleasure as Paul maintained his course.
Paul leaned forward and pressed his hot forehead to her shoulder. Sweat dripped on her skin and instantly cooled. She fought with her body, wanting more, but not knowing how much she could take. Thomas broke their kiss, but she held on, nipping his lip as Paul pulled away, cursing.
Thomas caught her as she shifted, once again off balance. He eased her to the bed. Paul stood at the end of the bed, his fist wrapped around his dick, white semen rolling out in waves. She looked around and found the condom on the floor. Paul leaned against the wall and wiped the back of his hand against his forehead.
“Damn thing broke,” he muttered, sweat still rolling down his face. “Sorry about that.”
She picked up the plastic sheath, split up the side. “How would you two feel if I were to go on the pill?”
Thomas rolled the ice cream covered blanket into a ball and tossed it into the corner before jumping onto the bed beside her. “I like that idea.”
“I second it,” Paul said. “Hell, I need a shower.”
Mary ran a sticky hand over his elbow. “Me too.”
He held up his hands, palms out. “No. I forbid it. Can’t you see I’m half dead?”
She giggled and rolled out of bed and onto her feet. “Just to get clean, silly. I won’t attack you.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Why don’t I believe you?”
She sauntered to him, adding an extra long swagger to her step. She ran her hand up his chest and patted his cheek. “Come on, handsome. I’ll wash your back.”
Chapter 17
Thomas and Paul snored as the dawn sun filtered through the hotel room window blinds. Mary watched the clock on the wall, the light enough to see the seven o’clock hour approaching. The lumpy mattress offered little comfort, and though sleeping between her men did, they’d had their fun the night before and now Duane occupied her mind.
With her soldier so centered in her thoughts, she’d wanted to focus. Unable to pretend to sleep any longer, she crawled over Paul to look out the window of their second story room. The view of the parking lot offered little distraction, but the quiet calm of the morning provided peace.
She pulled up the orange scoop chair and settled in it, watching the cars beginning their morning drives. She imagined any number of them heading to work, others to school, errands, lots of things to do in the smallish town near the air force base. Duane had been at the base for a few days, doing some final duties as he was being fully discharged after serving his medical internship for the Air Force on the ground in Vietnam.
Mary hated the war, always had. Her family didn’t embrace any violence, but at least in the world wars there had been a measure of dignity—of the world gathering for a greater cause. This time… She sighed and picked a piece of lint from the chair. No one would win in Vietnam, but everyone would lose.
“You okay, Mary?” Paul’s gravelly voice came from the bed without any sound of moving.
She glanced over. “Yep. Just looking forward to getting Duane. He’s been gone too long. I want him home where I can take care of him like he deserves.”
Paul stretched. “If anyone can it’s you. Damn, gets dry in these stuffy rooms at night. I feel like I was sucking cotton all night. What time is it?”
She checked the wall clock again, surprised she’d lost so much time in her thoughts. “Nearly eight.”
Paul flung a pillow at Thomas. “Wake up. We need to get breakfast and then head over to the base. If we’re late the dumbass is liable to go off on his own.”
She didn’t understand why running would be an option in Duane’s mind, but steeled herself for the truth of the matter.
She might be willing to love him, just as she had been with Paul, but unlike the man she’d married and the one she adored, she didn’t know Duane. Other than he liked cheeseburgers and had finished his internship to be a doctor in Vietnam, they hadn’t made deeper connections. She’d tried, he’d deflected.
“Don’t look so worried, sweet stuff.” Paul grabbed his clothes. “I’m going to take a shower. How about instead of thinking about all the work waiting, you think about the rewards?”
He wiggled his eyebrows before heading to the bathroom. She chuckled, but did as he said. Another man, another ally, another lover—it would be amazing. She resolved to throw herself into love with Duane and start from the beginning.
“You’re going to change the boy’s world, aren’t ya, Mary?” Thomas said, watching her with a sleepy smile from bed.
“Yeah, I think I will.”
* * * *
Mary’s nerves worked overtime as she waited in the backseat of the truck. Usually she sat between Paul and Thomas, but this time she wanted to be able to talk face to face with the man who had the power to cement their relationship into something…something.
Young men in khaki pants and t-shirts emerged from the nondescript building that housed the air force base. Duane’s small band had returned with little fanfare and less attention. She fluffed her hair and wished she’d done more with it, but she’d forgotten to pack her hot rollers.
Paul twisted around from the front and smiled at her before holding out a tube. She opened it to find her favorite red lipstick.
“I know you like your paint,” he joked. “Put a little on and give the soldier a welcome home.”
She laughed, but quickly slid on a fresh coat of red gloss. “I’m not even sure what he looks like.”
Thomas opened his door. “Here he comes now. The tall, skinny guy. Hell, we’ll have to fatten him up. Go get him, Mary. Remember how you said you wanted to start things off with a bang?”
She jumped out of the truck and sprinted to him. Her red dress kicked up with every stride. None of the men had much of a welcome, but Duane, who would be hers, would get one. Her fear and quiet nerves flew with her sprints. Her heart soared when Duane looked up, met her eyes, and dropped his bags.
She jumped into his arms and kissed him until her lips hurt. Even after the crushing from his mouth burned her lips, she kept on kissing, rubbing her fingers over his shaved head.
The sounds of catcalling finally made her pull away, but Mary wrapped her arms around Duane’s shoulders, making him bend down to be near to her.
“Hi. I’m Mary.”
He stared at her, his blue eyes wide even rimmed with dark circles. “Yeah, I figured you were.”
“Welcome home.”
He nodded, but started when a heavy hand landed on his back. Paul and Thomas flanked him, each smiling. They began talking at once, asking about his travels. Mary let him loose around the neck, but took his free hand before he could grab his bags. Paul and Thomas lifted his totes and headed for the truck. Duane’s warm palm held many scars and rough spots. He’d worked on the medical side of the war effort, but she didn’t believe for an instant he hadn’t suffered.
He looked so different from his cousins. The noses and eyes were similar in shape, but Duane obviously had different blood in him. His height set him apart and the wiry strength he showed completely differed from the more bulky, muscled quality of Paul. Thomas maintained a muscled physic, nothing like Duane’s lanky frame.
“You’re still driving this piece of shit?” Duane stopped by the truck. “What happened to lawyer and rancher money?”
“We’re working on it.” Paul cuffed Duane’s shoulder.
Duane winced, something she noticed he did every time one of the twins touched him. She rubbed her hand up the inside of his forearm, watching closely for his reaction. He looked down at her sharply, but quickly turned his expression back to passive.
“Are you all right?” she whispered.
“I’m fine.”
She hated that she didn’t know him well enough to know if his smile was sincere or forced. “We can eat first if you’d rather not get started on the drive,” she offered.
Duane shifted and didn’t meet her eyes. “I could eat.”
“Then we’ll eat first. Cheeseburger, right?”
“Yeah, cheeseburger sounds nice.”
Mary let the boys do the talking while they ate at a local fast food place Duane wanted to visit. She nibbled a French fry and watched her soldier. His efficiency screamed his military duty as much as his buzzed hair and drab clothes did. He laughed when appropriate and ribbed the twins, but his mirth never extended past his words. When he looked at her the deep seriousness behind the light blue color hit her soul. Something important weighed on Duane’s mind, but she remembered what Paul said about not giving up on him and not letting him slip away. She wanted him and would have him.
After lunch Mary resigned herself to not having the two hour drive with Duane. He simply didn’t fit in the backseat, not with his height. She smiled when Thomas jumped in beside her with Paul at the wheel, Duane riding shotgun.
“Hey, baby.” Thomas kicked off his shoes. “I should have figured Duane wouldn’t be comfortable back here—too tall. I guess I’ll have to keep you company on the drive.”
She shook her head at him. “Aren’t you a honey? Duane, are you sure you don’t want to stretch out back here? I can move up front with the twins if you want to try to sleep.”
He shook his head, but didn’t look back. “I’m fine, thanks. Thomas will make a good pillow for you. Getting a little soft there, aren’t you, cus?”
Thomas whacked Duane in the head and settled back against the seat, his arms open in invitation. “Come on over, sweetheart. It’s been too long since I held you.”
Though her mind teamed with what she should do with Duane, she relaxed into Thomas. Leaning into his lap gave huge comfort and when he wrapped his arms around her she felt renewed vigor to make the same connection with Duane. She’d figure him out and make things good.
Chapter 18
Thomas’s whispers woke Mary from her car rhythm sleep. “Psst, Duane, grab Mary, will ya? I’ll get the bags if you’ll tote her in.”
“You take her. Quit forcing your woman on me, Thomas.”
“Quit trying to back out, you idiot. If you think we’re going to let you, you’re out of your mind. Now pick her up and carry her into the house. She kicked off her shoes. I don’t want her getting hurt on the gravel.”
Thomas, always watching out for her, though he claimed he didn’t notice little details. She kept her eyes closed but wished she could open them after she heard Thomas walk away. Duane’s expression probably held an assortment of clues about what ran through his mind. He opened the side door, letting in a rush of cool night air.
She waited, trying to stay still.
He wiggled her foot. “Hey, faker. Wake up.”
She opened her eyes at his teasing tone. Still lethargic she held her arms out to him instead of grabbing the shoes he offered. His gaze turned stormy, but he sighed and lifted her from the truck.
“You’re little,” he said as he toted her to the cabin. “Which is probably good because this place is tiny.”
“Paul is talking to an architect now about a new house.” She rested her head on his boney shoulder. “There’ll be room for everyone to be more comfortable soon.”
“You have a positive outlook. Most women would be pissed about living in a hovel on the side of a mountain in the middle of nowhere. Is the head still outside?”
“If by ‘head’ you mean the outhouse—yes, but Paul built an awning to it now so it’s easier. And about most women—most women aren’t as groovy as me.” She kissed his neck. “You’ll learn. We put up bunk beds last week, so you’ll have your own space, but the big bed is totally open for you. It’s closer to the fire as well. The fireplace is usually pretty crappy at keeping the place warm.”
He didn’
t reply, just opened the door to the house and set her on her feet. Mary wished she hadn’t jumped right to sleeping arrangements, but it was unavoidable. He’d see the options the second he stepped into the house. She wanted to make sure he knew where he was welcome.
Paul and Thomas followed with the luggage. The past two days had been emotional and being home offered the sanctuary she craved with the men she loved. Unpacking could wait, everything could wait. She needed to welcome Duane home or at least lay face to face and talk. And kiss. Talk and kiss.
“I’m going to check with the hands,” Paul said. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll go with you.” Duane took off before Mary could protest.
Thomas put his arm around her as Paul closed the door. “I didn’t say it would be easy to get close to Duane. He’s…off a little, and it’s probably the soldier thing. It might take him a few days to warm up. I wouldn’t worry though. No man can resist your charms.”
She kissed his cheek. “I adore you. Thanks for the pep talk. I want this to be good. What else does he like to eat? I’ll make it and then I’ll get the bunk beds made with the new blankets.”
“Got a feeling he’ll want to sleep in one of those?”
She sighed and watched out the window, waiting for them to pass. First Paul, animated and chatting, followed by Duane, still scowling. She lingered and tried not to be disappointed with the cold truth of the situation. “Yeah, I think we’ve got a ways to go before he feels at home.”
* * * *
Deep in the night Mary woke from her man cocoon. The occasional cricket chirp and blowing wind kept the space from being too quiet, but something else had pulled her from her sleep. She sat up and looked around. Paul and Thomas slept, but twisted blankets sat alone on the bottom bunk where Duane had crashed immediately after dinner.
She gazed around the cabin but didn’t find him on the sofa—he’d tried to sleep there earlier but couldn’t because of his height. The partial wall blocked the view of the kitchen table. He could be in the bathroom, but his boots still sat by his bed. Worry growing, she wiggled out from the covers and threw on Paul’s discarded sweatshirt.
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